I’ve been considering a return to correspondence chess, and in doing so wanted to get an update on the state of things. I had previously played USCF, APCT, I think one CCLA and ICCF events, and as these were at various times, have ratings ranging from 1900 to 2200 or so.
I wanted to consider USCF correspondence, but noted that the web page is old and the information on it a little spotty. for example, I’m fairly computer versed so I understand the difference between email and webserver chess. I also understand that I would need a way to access a webserver. I noted recently that ChessBase 10 will access the ICCF server, so I was curious if the USCF webserver events used the ICCF server, as it doesn’t say on the USCF site that I could find. (I later found a separate forum where it noted it does.) I also found info that webserver chess is growing faster than any other - but note that USCF has primarily email events rather than webserver events.
IOW, there was no handy guide to online correspondence chess that I could find, explaining terms, or the best ways to go about things. Also, while I like the online store, one really needs to figure out exactly what one wants to enter before going to the online store because there aren’t links there to help answer questions. That info would also be useful in a CC FAQ.
Just a few suggestions.
What is the status of the ICCF, USCF, CCLA relationship? Is APCT shut down yet? KNOST?
I think there is just one type of USCF postal event that uses the ICCF chess server, the Walter Muir tournaments.
It is probably not coincidental that registrations for Walter Muir events are our 2nd most popular postal event, trailing only the Golden Knights.
One of the things that was reported at the Thursday EB meeting and repeated in several of the workshops in Dallas is that the USCF has recently received a bequest of around $23,000 from someone who was a correspondence chess player, with the request that these funds be used to benefit correspondence chess.
Currently we’re looking into the possibility of using some of those funds to set up a correspondence chess server for USCF rated correspondence events and and some to fund a special memorial tournament with an enhanced prize fund.
I’m still working on getting hardware and software cost estimates together on the former.
I play in USCF webserver events. Yes they’re on the ICCF Webserver, and unfortunately in my opinion, the Walter Muir Quads are the only regular ones they run in this way. Hopefully, they’ll migrate other tournaments to this format, or, as the other responder said, start their own webserver. IMHO, a much better way to play than email.
As far as accessing the server goes, you can get to it from any web browser; I use Firefox. Other webservers that I’ve seen, like FICGS and GameKnot, also work through your browser. Accessing it directly from a database program would certainly be convenient, but as a Mac user, I don’t have ChessBase any more. I use Exachess.
I think it’s unlikely that the existing correspondence events offered by the USCF will be changed to use a correspondence server (either ICCF’s or ours when it becomes available.)
I think it is more likely that new correspondence events will be created, ones specifically intended to be run on a server, like the Muir.
There are still correspondence players who cannot or prefer not to use servers or email for their CC events.
I was hoping to discuss this at the correspondence chess workshop in Dallas, but there were no CC players there for it.
In using ChessBase with the ICCF server, does one have to keep a separate database to work with the games offline and then merge games when connected in order to maintain old notes?
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